What Causes Acne?

Like many other skin disorders and diseases, acne may be caused by any one of many contributing factors or a combination of several. Some of the contributing factors are the foods you eat, your skin cleansing routine and/or products, the amount of water you drink, and the care you take of your skin in general.

Medically speaking, the three main causes of acne are: hormonal imbalances (many women tend to break out when pregnant, after giving birth, or right around their menstrual cycles as a result of hormones), bacteria, and over-production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Excessive sebum clogs up pores creating a favorable environment for acne to form.

You've heard, 'you are what you eat' right? Well diet has an important role in helping your skin fight off acne. By depriving your body of certain nutrients or providing an overabundance of other nutrients you are creating a chemical imbalance within your body. Your body reacts to the imbalance by secreting hormones, which can contribute to the formation of acne.

Research has indicated that probiotic bacteria is a great aid in the skins struggle to achieve balance, which can lead to the clearing up of many skin disorders that are a result of that imbalance. Probiotic bacteria are known to have properties that work to eliminate toxins in our food that we lack the necessary nutrients to break down and digest. As a result these toxins often manifest themselves as acne or eczema. By eliminating the toxins, you are reducing the risk of an outbreak.

In addition to this, any food that isn't fully digested by the body, generally resulting from erratic lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits can also manifest themselves as either digestive or skin disorders. To clarify, it isn't only the lack of healthy nutrients in and of themselves but also the body's inability to properly digest them that leads to possible acne outbreaks. Even with a well balanced diet, you could find yourself having continued acne outbreaks simply because your body isn't properly digesting the nutrients you are providing. You can correct this problem by taking nutritional supplements designed to increase digestive health.

In addition to food, cosmetics can also have a profound impact on your body's susceptibility to acne. Oil-based cosmetics are not recommended for those who are prone to acne outbreaks as they simply provide a ripe environment for acne to form. In addition to the oil-based cosmetics adding extra oils to skin that has plenty of its own already, water based cosmetics are not always a viable alternative either. It is best, to avoid cosmetics all together if possible.

Stress is another contributor to acne production along with weather. Heat and humidity cause you to sweat which leads to all kinds of pore cleansing nightmares, especially for those who wear makeup on a regular basis. Washing your face often, despite common misconceptions will not necessarily improve your skins condition. Most doctors recommend washing your face no more than twice daily as excessive scrubbing of the skin might invite bacteria to invade. Finally, scratching pimples is not a good idea as this might lead to infections and acne scarring.